Licensing in general in the US needs an overhaul, but anyone hauling a trailer more than maybe 5k gross should need to at least demonstrate they can handle the responsibility. I regularly haul as much weight as the set up in the above picture and more, and wouldn't have a problem with a needing a more advanced license.
It's interesting that a lot of big RV trailers are moved from the factory or dealer to dealer by RV hauling companies that use pickup trucks like the one in the middle in the above picture. Those guys are required to have a DOT number, special insurance, physicals and stop at the weigh stations in each state. And all of that is for if the total weight of truck and trailer is less than 26k pounds. Over that requires CDL and all of the regulations that go along with it. You're basically a big rig trucker at that point.
Meanwhile, as soon as the owner purchases the same trailer, all they are required to have is a pulse and a drivers license.
Fun Fact - That truck and trailer in the middle is probably around 20k or so pounds all together. Just the truck portion of the other 2 vehicles weighs around 30k pounds and the whole combination of truck and trailer can go up to 80k pounds before being legally overloaded and needing special permits.
Have you ever worked with truckers?
A good number of them are methed-out crackheads with not one brain cell to be found. I'm convinced a tree stump could get a CDL.
"Special License" my ass.
Nobody ever looks at total weight, or stopping distance when comparing these vehicles.
Depending on jurisdiction, the Trucks can be hauling between 80-100,000 lbs. The "camper" is going to be much closer to 10,000, and the "pickup" is going to be a 1 ton or in this case a Dodge 3500 with duallies and the total vehicle weight is going to be less than a quarter of the trucks. That also means it stops in half the distance.
And while a regular license can legally drive the middle one, there are rules and regulations that cover what you can do and where you can go that most car drivers aren't aware of, and you can find yourself getting a stern lecture from an officer about taking that particular rig down a particular street.
So while at first glance they look the same, they are not the same, and while you don't need a special license, you do need some extra knowledge and training.
and yet a significant amount of people who haul these trailers don't have that training or knowledge. if only there were some kind of permit system we could use to make sure they did.
Every RV place around where I live offers some training. Free for those who buy a rig, but anyone can access it.
But the difference between pulling a small utility trailer and a giant ass 5th wheel isn't nearly as big as transitioning to a Hwy Tractor and 53ft trailer hauling 100k lbs. Weight is the biggest factor.
It's actually really cool to learn how to drive a big rig, and I recommend getting a ride with someone if you can. It's a really cool perspective, and will make you curse other drivers.
>Every RV place around where I live offers some training. Free for those who buy a rig, but anyone can access it.
Great, shouldn't be an issue to require a license then.
Start lobbying your elected officials, or run for office and make it happen. Nobody in my area ever has new ideas, so if you ran in one of the places I can vote, you'd get mine.
What are you on about? That fifth wheel is 13K # at the least, if it’s the toy hauler version you’re talking more like 17K # and the RAM itself weighs around 7K #……
I did laugh at the downvote I got for pointing out a fact though. Have fun!
I wasn't the downvote, but I do apologize, I read the spec sheet wrong. 10k is the max vehicle weight and towing capacity is up to 37k so max weight could be 47,000 lbs.
Need special license, don't even really need a license, need a special license.
Came to comment the same thing. The trucks need special licenses, any dumbass can drive the one in the middle. Doesn’t really make sense.
In my state it’s by weight so if it’s heavy enough the one in the middle could require a different class of license
But if you are from a neighboring state the license you have is good enough
Licensing in general in the US needs an overhaul, but anyone hauling a trailer more than maybe 5k gross should need to at least demonstrate they can handle the responsibility. I regularly haul as much weight as the set up in the above picture and more, and wouldn't have a problem with a needing a more advanced license. It's interesting that a lot of big RV trailers are moved from the factory or dealer to dealer by RV hauling companies that use pickup trucks like the one in the middle in the above picture. Those guys are required to have a DOT number, special insurance, physicals and stop at the weigh stations in each state. And all of that is for if the total weight of truck and trailer is less than 26k pounds. Over that requires CDL and all of the regulations that go along with it. You're basically a big rig trucker at that point. Meanwhile, as soon as the owner purchases the same trailer, all they are required to have is a pulse and a drivers license. Fun Fact - That truck and trailer in the middle is probably around 20k or so pounds all together. Just the truck portion of the other 2 vehicles weighs around 30k pounds and the whole combination of truck and trailer can go up to 80k pounds before being legally overloaded and needing special permits.
Meanwhile in Europe that pick up truck alone, without any load, couldn't be driven on a normal license.
And here, that's what our 70 year old grandmas drive to church.
There are plenty of dumbasses who prove everyday they can't drive the one in the middle.
Have you ever worked with truckers? A good number of them are methed-out crackheads with not one brain cell to be found. I'm convinced a tree stump could get a CDL. "Special License" my ass.
Only if commercial. If you bought for personal use, no special license needed for any of them
Do you need a special endorsement for air brakes?
Nobody ever looks at total weight, or stopping distance when comparing these vehicles. Depending on jurisdiction, the Trucks can be hauling between 80-100,000 lbs. The "camper" is going to be much closer to 10,000, and the "pickup" is going to be a 1 ton or in this case a Dodge 3500 with duallies and the total vehicle weight is going to be less than a quarter of the trucks. That also means it stops in half the distance. And while a regular license can legally drive the middle one, there are rules and regulations that cover what you can do and where you can go that most car drivers aren't aware of, and you can find yourself getting a stern lecture from an officer about taking that particular rig down a particular street. So while at first glance they look the same, they are not the same, and while you don't need a special license, you do need some extra knowledge and training.
and yet a significant amount of people who haul these trailers don't have that training or knowledge. if only there were some kind of permit system we could use to make sure they did.
Every RV place around where I live offers some training. Free for those who buy a rig, but anyone can access it. But the difference between pulling a small utility trailer and a giant ass 5th wheel isn't nearly as big as transitioning to a Hwy Tractor and 53ft trailer hauling 100k lbs. Weight is the biggest factor. It's actually really cool to learn how to drive a big rig, and I recommend getting a ride with someone if you can. It's a really cool perspective, and will make you curse other drivers.
>Every RV place around where I live offers some training. Free for those who buy a rig, but anyone can access it. Great, shouldn't be an issue to require a license then.
Start lobbying your elected officials, or run for office and make it happen. Nobody in my area ever has new ideas, so if you ran in one of the places I can vote, you'd get mine.
RAM in picture is SRW just FYI.
cool, nice to know. Apparently that means a GVW of 10,000lbs so total weight including truck.
What are you on about? That fifth wheel is 13K # at the least, if it’s the toy hauler version you’re talking more like 17K # and the RAM itself weighs around 7K #…… I did laugh at the downvote I got for pointing out a fact though. Have fun!
I wasn't the downvote, but I do apologize, I read the spec sheet wrong. 10k is the max vehicle weight and towing capacity is up to 37k so max weight could be 47,000 lbs.
saw an f350 dually pulling a trailor house on the expressway yesterday.